Collins produces scorching finish to win Munster Under 17 Close
Munster Close U17 winner Zak Collins, Muskerry pictured with Munster Golf Chairman Jim Long. Picture: Niall O'Shea.
Muskerry’s Zak Collins captured his first Munster title when he birdied three of his last four holes to win the Munster U17 Close Championship at West Waterford.
Over 60 competitors took the course in Dungarvan for the first Munster Championship of the year and it was Collins who topped the leaderboard, carding a one-over 73 to win by a shot from Ballykisteen’s Sean Calvert.
Heavy rain in the morning hampered everyone, and play was suspended for 30 minutes as standing water was cleared from several greens.
Collins went out in four-over 40, a very tidy score considering the heavy rain that fell in the morning. He opened the back nine with a birdie on the 10th an after a bogey on the 14th, closed with birdies at the 15th, 16th and 18th.
Reigning champion Calvert was three over after four holes but rallied to cover the remaining holes in one-under par and put up a stout defence of his title.
Ballyneety’s Iestyn Winn was third with a three-over 75.
The Munster U15 Close Championship was won by Lucas Lyons from Limerick.
Lyons went around in 75 strokes to finish three clear of Kinsale’s James Walsh.
Lyons also finished strongly, he had an eagle on the par five 16th and birdied the last hole to help his run for the title.
In the Under 14 Class, Fota Island’s John Doyle shot an 81 to win on the back nine from West Waterford’s Paddy Quill with Dromoland’s Niall Melody third with an 82.
